HC orders Rs 10.38 L compensation to kin of electrocuted man

Holding Greater Chennai Corporation alone responsible for electrocution of an auto-driver, the Madras High Court directed it to pay compensation of Rs 10.38 lakh to his family.
Justice S Vaidyanathan in his order said the Corporation alone was liable to pay the compensation as laying of electric cables and its maintenance is left to it, while electricity supply alone is extended by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
The judge directed the Corporation to pay the compensation to the deceased man's wife within three months, failing which it would attract six per cent per annum, from the date of the accident till the date of payment.

The judge noted that courts generally straightaway order interest along with the compensation from the date of accident/date of filing a case.In this case, interest payment would come into play if Rs 10.38 lakh was not paid within the stipulated three months, he said.
Making it clear that the present case cannot be treated as a precedent in any other case,the judge said if anyone quotes this portion of the order to postpone/deprive interest, then it would attrat interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of accident till date of payment in those matters.
The petitioner submitted that her husband was the sole bread winner. On January 10, 2013 he went to a nearby shop to buy milk early in the morning, stamped on a cut electricity cable lying on the road and was electrocuted Hence, the present writ petition for a suitable compensation.

Both Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and the Corporation of Chennai were cited as respondents and they passed the blame on each other, she said.